Renewed emphasis on capital projects included as Regional Council approves 2005 Business Plan and Budget

NEWMARKET – As part of the 2005 Business Plan and Budget approved by York Regional Council today, York Region will embark on $546 million in Transportation and Works capital projects.

The budget includes a major emphasis on road widening and maintenance, transit and rapid transit services, as well as major water and wastewater construction projects.

"Roads, transit, water and wastewater continue to be high priority items for York Region and this budget reflects the strong emphasis placed on capital works," said Richmond Hill Mayor Bill Bell, Chair of the Region's Transportation and Works Committee. "We have heard the concerns of our residents for less congestion on our roads, and servicing growth continues to be a deciding factor in our budget decision-making process. Overall, I think this budget is responsive to our residents' needs and expectations."

"This year will continue to be significant as the Region continues to delivery major capital works projects," said Kees Schipper, York Region's Commissioner of Transportation and Works. "We are looking forward to moving ahead with needed infrastructure to service our growing community, and meet the current needs of our residents."

Among the capital works highlights for 2005:

Roads:

• Improvements to 29 intersections• Construct 90 new lane kilometres of roads• An additional $2 million for resurfacing improvement to 60 lane kilometres of roads• Nine new major road improvement/widening projects

Water:

• Construction of 64 km of additional water transmission lines• Construction of a new 76 ML water storage facility• Completion of York-Peel Feedermain• Construction of King City Sanitary Servicing York Durham Sewage System hook-up

Wastewater:

• Construction of 20 km of additional sewers and forcemains

Solid Waste Management:

• Opening of Bales Drive Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in East Gwillimbury• Roll-out of Source Separated Organics (SSO) program• Site upgrades to Georgina transfer station• A new public drop-off facility in southern York Region

Transit and Rapid Transit:

• Nearly $70 million to be spent on rapid transit• Launch of Viva rapid transit system in September• 11 new York Region Transit conventional vehicles• 3 new York Region Transit specialized vehicles• New terminals and bus shelters

• Nearly $70 million to be spent on rapid transit• Launch of Viva rapid transit system in September• 11 new York Region Transit conventional vehicles• 3 new York Region Transit specialized vehicles• New terminals and bus shelters

• Opening of new Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at Bales Drive in East Gwillimbury• Roll-out of Source Separated Organics (SSO) program• Expanded Blue Box program to accept plastics #1-7• Site upgrades to Georgina transfer station• A new public drop-off facility in southern York Region